The Republic of Indonesia is situated mostly in Southeast Asia, with a portion of it in Oceania. The world's largest island nation, Indonesia consists of more than 17,000 islands. It is also the fourth most populated country in the world.

Indonesia shares land borders with East Timor, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea, and a water border with Australia, Palau, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are part of India.

Approximately 6,000 of the Indonesian islands are inhabited, with nearly 60% of the country's population residing on the island of Java, the world's most heavily populated island. Four-fifth of the area claimed by Indonesia is ocean, and many of its islands are tiny, little more than rocks pressing out of the water. On the other hand, New Guinea and Borneo are the third and fourth largest islands in the world, with Indonesia claiming about two-thirds of each.

There are hundreds of volcanoes scattered throughout Indonesia, and 167 of them are active. More than 36,000 people died when Krakatau erupted in 1883, and around 90,000 were killed when Mount Tambora erupted in 1815. Eighteen of Indonesia's active volcanoes are on Java, and twelve are on Sumatra. Earthquakes occur in Indonesia often, as well, and are sometimes devastating.

Indonesia is spread out over so large of an area that its ethnic population have developed in isolation from one another, leading to a diversity of cultures, traditions, and languages. The people in some of Indonesia's remote villages adhere to ancient traditions and rituals. In recent years, however, many parts of Indonesia have been joined by roads, ferries, local airlines, and public buses. Cellular phones, televisions, and the Internet have joined people together, as well, at least those who can afford them.

Indonesia includes hundreds of ethnic groups, the largest being the Javanese. Over the years, though, Arabs, Indians, and Europeans have mingled with Indonesia's indigenous people, and there is also a large Chinese population in Indonesia. More than seven hundred languages and dialects are spoken by Indonesians, the official language being Indonesian.

Although Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, only six religions are recognized by the Indonesian government: Islam, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, with almost 90% of its population adhering to Islam, and about 8% Christian. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. Its Catholic population is largely on Flores Island, while Protestants are concentrated in its eastern islands, including New Guinea and the islands just off the coast of New Guinea, although there are pockets of Christians elsewhere in the country, as well.

Indonesia is sometimes referred to as an unlikely country, in that so many of its islands do not share a common history, and many parts of the country didn't even have contact with one another until recent years. The islands of Indonesia are part of the same country today largely because they came under Dutch rule during the colonial era.

Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II effectively ended Dutch rule over Indonesia. Only days after Japan surrendered, the leaders of a growing nationalist movement in Indonesia proclaimed independence. The Netherlands tried to reassert their authority over the islands, but were not successful in the resulting struggle. In December of 1949, the Netherlands recognized Indonesia's independence. Dutch New Guinea did not become part of Indonesia until 1962, and its control over Western New Guinea is still in dispute.

Under the rule of President Sukarno, Indonesia's government became increasingly authoritarian in the late 1950s. An attempted coup in 1965 resulted in a purge of communists, political leftists, and ethnic Chinese, who Sukarno blamed for the coup, and it is believed that up to a million people were killed, with some estimated being three times that number. The head of Indonesia's military, General Suharto, was appointed president in 1968, replacing Sukarno.

Suharto's administration was supported by the United States, but came under fire for corruption.

Indonesia was financially devastated during a larger Asian financial crisis in 1997. Discontent spurred protests that led to Suharto's resignation in May of 1998. The following year, East Timor seceded from Indonesia in 1999, ending a 25-year occupation by Indonesian military forces. to become the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Today, Indonesia is a presidential republic, in which power is concentrated in the president. The president serves as the head of government, head of state, and commander-in-chief of the military. The president also appoints a council of ministers, who do not have to be elected members of the legislature.

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Recommended Resources

The central bank of Indonesia is headquartered in Jakarta, and has offices across Indonesia, and in New York City, London, Singapore, and Tokyo. Founded under Dutch rule in 1826, it assumed its current name and role in 1953, when independence was achieved from the Netherlands. Details of the Indonesia monetary system, its financial system, payment policies, and regulatory powers are included, along with statistics and other publications.

The plot involves two young children who are part of a tourist group in Bali. Bored with the scripted itinerary, they climb toward a cliff, where they find a treasure chest containing items that will lead them on a journey to the treasures of Indonesia. Scenes from the show are available in video, the location of the Bali Nusa Dua Theatre, where it iss playing, is given, along with schedules, and online bookings, reviews, updates, and contacts.

FOI serves to raise awareness and support for the work of the Indonesian Orthodox Church in Indonesia and elsewhere. The history, geography, and politics of Indonesia are discussed, as well as Indonesian culture. The Church's organizational structure, administrative contacts, and parishes are detailed, and the relationships between the Church and the Indonesian government and people, Christian-Muslim relations, and other issues are highlighted.

Headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, PT Garuda Indonesia is the national Airline of Indonesia. Founded in 1947, it operates regular flights to several worldwide destinations, as well as domestic flights. Airline schedules are posted, and arrival and departure times can be viewed online, as well as picket purchases and other resources. Car rentals and hotels may also be booked through the site.

The embassy is located in Jakarta, where the German Ambassador to Indonesia represents the German government to the people of Indonesia, and embassy staff offers as variety of services to German citizens in Indonesia, as well as being able to assist with visas and passports, studying in Germany, emigrating to Germany, or doing business in Germany. Its embassy and consulate services are described, and contacts are posted.

Situated in southern Bali, the Grand Mirage Resort and Thalasso Spa offers views of the Indian Ocean. A profile of the facilities and guest accommodations are set forth, including room or suite options, amenities, features, and services, as well as its on-site dining facilities, wedding and event spaces, and Thalasso Bali Spa, with photographs and promotional video. Rooms may be booked online, and honeymoon and other special packages are highlighted.

Located in Bali, Indonesia, Green School is a campus without walls, operating as a non-profit foundation, and offering a K-12th grade educational program with an emphasis on environmental sustainability. Its programs and policies are dictated, along with its admissions policies, fees, application process, and academic schedule. The school also offers an educator course, which is highlighted here.

Indo is an online booking site for hotels and resorts, tour packages, and flights to Indonesia. Airport transfer services, packages tours, and hotel packages are highlighted, along with reviews and suggestions on hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, travel packages, and other information and resources relating to traveling to Indonesia. A profile and history of the country, its geographical features, maps, and events are included.

Certified and authorized by the Indonesia Ministry of Transportation Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the air traffic services training provider prepares students to become professional air traffic controllers or aeronautical communication officers. Its location, administrative contacts, and an overview of its programs are put forth, including its admissions policies and a photo gallery.

The directory lists websites for Indonesian businesses, services, schools, religious organizations, and others, categorizing included content by city or by topical category or keyword. New listings are highlighted, and a search option may also be used to locate listed content. New businesses may be registered, or new sites submitted for consideration of inclusion, and advertising opportunities may be available.

Created by Elizabeth Pisani, who spent several months traveling Indonesia, as well as some time there as an epidemiologist for the Ministry of Health, the site promotes her book on Indonesia, and her TED talk video, and offers photographs and other videos and slideshows from Indonesia, her radio and television appearances, book reviews, and other writings. Articles related to Indonesia are included, and sorted by category.

Furniture and related products throughout Indonesia may be located through this directory, which focuses on the product rather than the company. Users of the directory may browse the directory’s product categories and, for products they are interested in, a selection of companies offering the product are presented, with addresses, telephone numbers, and web addresses. An active discussion forum allows users to discuss products and product availability with sellers and other buyers.

Featured tour packages are highlighted, or they can be found by browsing through province categories. Details of travel packages include the duration, program and, in some cases, prices and special offers. Hotel bookings may be done through the site as well, and an interactive Indonesia travel forum is available, in which participants can engage in discussion of a variety of topics related to Indonesia or Indonesia travel.

Created in Melbourne, Australia by the Indonesian Resources and Information Program in 1983, which continues to operate the site, Inside Indonesia focuses on human rights, environmental, social, and political issues in Indonesia, but covers other topics as well. Its operational structure and board are acknowledged, and its guidelines for financial or literary contributions are given, along with reviews and archive of past editions.

PBI is an independent language school in downtown Yogyakarta, in Central Java, Indonesia that offers training to foreigners in the Indonesian language. The school's location, a profile and overview of its courses and programs, including sample lessons, fee structure, reviews, an academic schedule, administrative contacts, and registration policies. Visa services are also available, and Skype lessons are an option.

SLS offers language courses, teaching English and Indonesian, with experience in teaching students from different nationalities, and with the goal of helping students to achieve a level of fluency that will allow them to communicate efficiently and effectively in Indonesia. Its English and Indonesian courses are highlighted, along with student services, testimonials, and administrative contacts.

The daily English-language newspaper is published in Jakarta, Indonesia, including a print edition daily, as well as a weekend magazine, and its online edition. Its web edition features news from Jakarta, Indonesia, and Asia, as well as business reports, news analysis and opinion, a travel guide, photos, and video. Full access to its electronic edition requires a subscription to either its paper edition or to its web edition specifically.

The United States embassy in Jakarta and its consulates in Surabaya, Medan, and Bali, offer visa and passport services, emergency notifications and other services to American citizens in Indonesia, as well as services to Indonesian citizens wishing to learn English, to study in the US, or to do business in the United States. Its locations, hours, and contacts are posted, along with informational items relating to the United States policies toward Indonesia.

Maintained by the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia, the site offers a guide to attractions, events, and things to do in Indonesia, including trip ideas, a travel blog, as well as general information about traveling to Indonesia, maps, travel packages, and travel tips. Packages may be sorted by the type of travel desired or by browsing travel categories. Packages may be booked online.